Thermal Design Engineer IV

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  • Arcfield
  • Louisville, KY
  • Full-Time
  • 2 days ago
  • $101,175.06 - $175,923.79
Published
May 19, 2026
Location
Louisville, KY
Category
None  
Job Type

Thermal Design Engineer IV: our view in 3 lines...

  • The Role: Design and analyze thermal systems for spacecraft and payloads, providing solutions from component through full system levels for space-industry programs.
  • The Person: Perform thermal system design and FEM-based thermal model analysis for spacecraft components, subsystems, and full systems and support design V&V through transition to production.
  • Requirements: Experience with Thermal Desktop, CAD modeling, SolidWorks, thermal principles, thermal model analysis, and verification and validation is required.

Job Description

Responsibilities

Overview

 

This role is responsible for thermal system design and analysis of complex spacecraft and payloads, spanning from the lowest‑level component up through sub‑system and full system levels. The position includes designing thermal solutions for a wide range of electronic components and ensuring thermal closure while meeting cost and schedule objectives.

 

Key Responsibilities

  • Perform thermal system design and analysis for spacecraft and payloads across component, sub‑system, and system levels.
  • Design thermal integration of electronic components such as processors, power supplies, cameras, and optical assemblies at the sub‑system and spacecraft level.
  • Ensure thermal designs close properly and identify innovative technical means to meet thermal, cost, and schedule requirements.
  • Perform FEM‑based thermal model analysis using Thermal Desktop.
  • Develop preliminary concepts supporting early design activities through design V&V (verification & validation) and transition to rate production.
  • Collaborate effectively with avionics, mechanical, structural, program management, and AI&T teams with strong internal customer focus.
  •  

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant engineering or computation field plus 8–10 years,
    MS plus 6–8 years, or PhD plus 3–5 years of professional experience in thermal engineering positions.
  • 3+ years of professional working experience in the space industry.
  • Experience with Thermal Desktop, CAD modeling, and basic thermal principles.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Ability to perform mechanical engineering design tasks using SolidWorks, in addition to primary thermal engineering duties.

Equal Pay Act

This is the projected compensation range for this position. There are differentiating factors that can impact a final salary/hourly rate, including, but not limited to, Contract Wage Determination, relevant work experience, skills and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location (For Remote Opportunities), education and certifications as well as Federal Government Contract Labor categories. In addition, Arcfield invests in its employees beyond just compensation. Arcfield ’s benefits offerings include, dependent upon position, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, Holiday Pay, Short Term and Long-Term Disability, Retirement and Savings, Learning and Development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections.

Min: $101,175.06
Max: $175,923.79
EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and federal government contractor. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment as protected by law.

Key Skills
? Key Skills in dark blue have been inferred based on similar industry roles
Thermal Desktop Finite Element Analysis Thermal Modeling CAD (solidworks) Thermal Vacuum Testing Thermal Control Systems Heat Transfer Analysis Thermal V&V Program Management System Design

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